What in the world is going on with us? Do we live in a world gone mad? Have we always lived in a mad world, and now Twitter is shoveling in our brains at a faster rate? It’s been sad and tragic, confusing and scary couple of weeks… and we have to keep doing laundry and keep emptying the dishwasher, and keep filling our gas tanks with gas. It’s bizarre and hard.
These are the best words I’ve found for the week. From Anne Lamott:
“There is no healing in pretending this bizarre violent stuff is not going on, and that there is some cute bumper sticker silver lining. (It is fine if you believe this, but for the love of God, PLEASE keep it to yourself. it will just tense us all up.) What is true is that the world has always been this way, people have always been this way, grace always bats last, it just does–and finally, when all is said and done, and the dust settles, which it does, Love is sovereign here.”
Be well today. Take it easy, because sometimes so much is so hard.
• President Obama delivers remarks at an interfaith memorial service in Dallas. These words are strong to matter our politics.
• The way in which and the immediacy with which we consume the news is changing in a disturbing way. Where is the truth? It certainly can’t be on Twitter. How Technology Swallowed the Truth.
• Literally everything money can buy: a look inside Amazon’s massive warehouse. Man we got so weird so fast, didn’t we? Do you remember life before the instant reward of Amazon?
• The Neurotic Eaters Grocery List: Cows are global-warming fart machines, egg farms are hell, ice cream is poison somehow, lobster are screaming, organic barely means organic, and don’t even get me started on hot dogs. So wait… what can we eat? Donuts? I KNEW IT!
• We are very connected, constantly. We are very disconnected, constantly. Headphone culture: Life in little bubbles of curated music and podcasts (that no one seems to be actually paying for anymore). “These days, people seem to be perpetually gearing themselves up for the epic battle of merely existing. At the end of the day, jogging up to our front doors, we are all Rocky, reaching the summit, conquering that last step: “Just a man / and his will / to survive!” We rip our headphones off, triumphantly. We did it! Another day closer to death!” Oh boy…
• I just signed up for Novella-T. It’s an email subscription service that delivers serialized long-form fiction. That means part of a novella makes its way to your inbox every week. It’s creative publishing that I’m excited to enjoy and support.
• A little bit more news that indicated that we are fickle ridiculous creatures: Did Father John Misty Steal Moon Juice’s Crystal?
• Related and definitely not UN-related: Inside the World’s Chicest Cult. Where the cool ladies go to keep their cool. Did you see my eyeroll? It was strong.
• Firm proof that we are not a hopeless species… that we’re actually ok. Thank you, Ernie Johnson.
• I’ve made some very fine summer recipes in years past. Here are a few of my favorites: Charred Corn with Pistachio Cilantro Lime Rub (YES!), Tomato Cobbler with Blue Cheese Biscuits (like yesterday’s Tomato Pie with more biscuits and blue cheese), Peanut Butter Banana Bonbons (the best way to eat frozen bananas), and Peach and Cardamom Lemonade (just add bourbon).
• This week in delicious caffeination: Kings Row Coffee Bonbon Blend.
• What do we think about this knife and tiny cutting board all in one?
• My financial planner friend Jessi recommended this book. Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending. I believe her because I have a retirement savings now so she definitely knows her stuff.
• I love and adore the writing of Marian Bull so please read this, ok thank you. Nobody has ever written about eating alone before so I figured I should. “I am so well versed in being on my own and so tripped up by the intricacies of it all the time, still. This isn’t meant to be sad! This is just what it’s like to be a person.” AMEN, it’s truth.
• This week in Treat-Yourself, You’re Doing Great: get yourself a robe.
The picture above is from an afternoon spent making a paper flower with my friend Suzonne Stirling who is good-hearted and patient and funny and acutely good at making gorgeous flower out of paper.
Let’s enjoy this day!
xo Joy
searedandshameless
These posts are my favorite reads ever. Love your words. Keeping everyone in my thoughts.
https://www.searedandshameless.com
Anne
I discovered many new things from your article. Thank you for this!
Anne xxx
https://www.promdresses2017.us.com/prom-dresses.html
Deena
Anne Lamott’s words really hit home. Thank you Joy for sharing that. They do impart peace.
Chiming in on the issue ads in your post…there aren’t any ads on my computer, but on my phone…oy! Maddening. It’s not just on your blog, but on so many others. It makes me just want to “delete”! Wish there were a way to put a stop to it. Thank you!
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
This week sucked. Again. Just like the week before so we really needed the Instagram from Father John Misty–that shit had me laughing so hard.
Rémy Robert
Marian Bull is the BEST person!!!
Rebecca
If you need some great summer reading, this is a treat: Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: Confessions of Cooking for One and Dining Alone.
Cait
Would you consider doing a post or a video tutorial on how to make those flowers? They are glorious and I think that focusing on it could be quite meditative and anxiety-reducing (for those of us who are crap at knitting/crocheting.)
Allison
While I enjoyed Ms. Bull’s piece, someone has, in fact, previously written (quite well) about eating alone. M.F.K. Fischer in 1937.
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/property/article/2014/09/02/serve-it-forth-mfk-fisher-excerpt/
Sam Son
very nice post.
Scott Williams
I love the knife and cutting board you recommended. I have used a similar knife in the past by Wusthof and they just last forever as long as you maintain them well. Great post.
Kevin
The Neurotic Eater article was sure good for a laugh! What a bunch of crazy. Still looking for what it is that we can eat.
Sarah Cross Mills
You emails suddenly stopped! Help!! I tried subscribing again, and it tells me I recently unsubscribed so you can’t automatically subscribe me again. Help! (I would never unsubscribe on purpose, believe me! Help!
Ffi
In a week where so much is going on ( bad things) thanks for the beautiful flowers it really soothed my soul – keep doing what you’re doing!X
Lizzie
Your first paragraph is everything. Thank you, Joy, for the perspective (and the links and paper flowers).
Mia
Thank you for posting the video feed of the memorial service. Such strong and truthful words – here is hoping we can find our common humanity and shared dignity.
Stella
Joy,
Once again I find myself enthralled, curious, angered, entertained and yes, bewildered. The Spirit Weaver article was read aloud to my 26 year old daughter, and we both experienced an eye roll (several in fact) along with an appropriate amount of head shaking. This one article was so disturbing to me though on a deeper level. After recently spending time on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and seeing first hand the abysmal living conditions of the First Nations Lakota and Sioux people, cultural appropriation is indeed a topical issue that needs to be addressed as is the narrow minded definition of what being a “womyn” or feminist means in today’s world. Thank you again for keeping the conversation going. Oh and long live the donut.